(Kimberley, South Africa – October 10, 2015) – The 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup concluded today as 12 of the world’s best street skaters, from eight countries, competed for the world title and $100,000 top prize. Under the lights at the world class Kumba Skate Plaza, sold out, standing-room only crowds cheered wildly as the top skaters in the world competed in fierce, head-to-head battles.

The final heat put Luan Oliveira head-to-head with Nyjah Huston. The excitement in the air was palpable as the two faced off. The Kimberley, South Africa crowd was on its feet cheering throughout the intense five-minute battle.

“Congratulations to Nyjah – that was really hard. I thought I was going to pass out. I literally could not breathe,” said a still-winded Oliveira who collapsed on the course after the finals.

When the scores were tallied, just two points separated the final two (97.08 to 95.07). Huston edged out Oliveira by landing difficult rail tricks with few falls. While Luan had the best performance over the semi-finals and finals, he had several falls in the finals that made the difference.

“I am so pumped. It was great being back in South Africa,” said Huston. “I was bummed when I did not make the semi-finals last year, but this was one of the toughest heats I have ever skated. Luan is a great competitor and it was exhausting. I’ll definitely be back next year as I love it here. It was a great contest.”

This year the World Skateboarding Federation, which sanctioned the Skateboarding World Championships, provided financial assistance to over 50 skaters to help them pay for travel expenses to South Africa. WSF is committed to supporting skateboarders around the world and is leading the charge to organize skateboarding in advance of its potential inclusion in the next Olympic Games.

“The 2015 World Skateboarding Championships were a huge success,” said Tim McFerran, CEO of World Skateboarding Grand Prix. “We were excited to see eight countries represented in the top 12 this year, proving how many talented skaters there are all over the world. Each year we hold this contest to give skaters from any country an opportunity to compete on a professional level on a world class skatepark. This contest gives skaters the global exposure they need to attract fans and sponsors. With skateboarding being proposed for the 2020 Olympic Games, it’s more important than ever to support these international skaters, who don’t have the strong support we see in the US. We look forward to returning next year and seeing some new faces and countries as we continue to grow skateboarding and support skateboarders around the world.”

The final day of the World Skateboarding Championships kicked off with the South African Am Skateboarding World Championships and Top Grom Championships. The day then moved onto the South African Championships. Twenty six skaters competed in the finals by earning a top place in one of World Skateboarding Grand Prix’s nine qualifying events held throughout South Africa. The competitiors represented the best up and coming skaters in the nation, all between the ages of seven and 13 years old.

Seventeen-year old Brandon Valjalo from Kyalami, Johannesburg lifted the trophy as South African champion in the South African Street Championships. Valjalo went head to head with Cape Town’s Alan Marola in the finals. Walking off with a check for R 20,000, Valjalo said his victory was the highlight of a great week of skating. “I really enjoyed skating with all the pro skaters during the week. It was amazing to hang out with guys, who have been my idols, like Nyjah Huston.” Commenting on the potential inclusion of skateboarding in the 2020 Olympic Games, Valjalo admitted that it is a really exciting prospect. “It would be absolutely incredible to represent South Africa on an international level and to be skating with all my friends from all over the world.”

South African Street Championship results:

Brandon Valjalo

Alan Marola

Allan Adams

Kanya Spani

Josh Chrisholm

Yahn Horowitz

Byron Rhoda

Enwin Gallant

With the recent news that skateboarding is among the top contenders to be considered for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, this year’s world championships took on a special significance and many of the competitors were asked their thoughts on skateboarding in the Olympic Games.

The webcast of the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at Kimberley Diamond Cup are available on demand at www.KimberleyDiamondCup.com

Highlights from the 2015 Street Skateboarding World Championship Finals:

Nyjah Huston: Switch frontside feeble grind down the handrail. Backside flip the long way over the gap on the stairs. Nollie backside 180 to forward on the A-frame rail.

Luan Oliveira: Kickflip over the entire manny pad.

JS Lapierre: 270 lipslide to 270 out on the A-frame rail.

Yoshi Tanenbaum: Laserflip down the big four.

Pro Street Finals Results & Cash Prizes

Nyjah Huston (California – USA) $100,000

Luan Oliveira (Brazil) $35,000

JS Lapierre (Montreal, Canada) $12,000

Yoshi Tanenbaum (Maryland – USA) $12,000

Tommy Fynn (Australia) $4,000

Vincent Milou (France) $4,000

Chase Webb (California – USA) $4,000

Jost Arens (Germany) $4,000

TJ Rogers (Ontario, Canada) $2,000

Dlamini Dlamini (South Africa) $2,000

Gustavo Servin (Mexico) $2,000

Tyson Bowerbank (USA) $2,000

Click here for the full results including scores from the entire 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup.

The World Skateboarding Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup is a partnership between South Africa’s Northern Cape Provincial Government, World Skateboarding Grand Prix and Kumba Iron Ore. Located 300 miles southwest of Johannesburg in the Northern Cape Province, Kimberley was the location of South Africa’s first diamond mine, thus its nickname, “The Diamond City.” For the latest news and information go to www.kimberleydiamondcup.com or follow KDC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP)

World Skateboarding Grand Prix is an international skateboarding event management company. WSGP hosts world-class skateboarding events with a commitment to help stimulate local economies through tourism while supporting youth development, especially those in underserved or impoverished communities. For the latest news and information on the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup and other upcoming World Skateboarding Grand Prix events, visit www.WorldSkateboarding.com.

Jimmy Wilkins Defends Title to Win Vert Skateboarding World Championships

Nyjah Huston, Luan Oliveira and Yoshi Tanenbaum Land on Top in Friday’s Street Qualifiers, Saturday Finals will Air Live via Webcast and on SuperSport

(Kimberley, South Africa – October 9, 2015) – The Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup moved into day two with the Rider Cup Team Championships, the qualifiers for Saturday’s Street World Championships and the Vert World Championships. Jimmy Wilkins defended his title as the Vert World Champion, earning him $35,000 cash. Mitchie Brusco placed second and Pierre Luc Gagnon finished third. The Street World Championships will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT and broadcast live via SuperSport in 49 countries and webcast on www.kimberleydiamondcup.com.

The Skateboarding World Championships are sanctioned by the World Skateboarding Federation, a governing body for skateboarding. WSF provided financial assistance to over 50 skaters to help them pay for travel expenses to South Africa.

The official events of the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at Kimberley Diamond Cup are the African Continental Championships, Women’s Street Championships, Vert World Championships, Street World Championships, Rider Cup Team Skateboarding Championships as well as four national championship events for South African skaters, including Girl’s Street Championships, Vert Championships, Street Championships and the Top Grom Championships.

The World Skateboarding Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup is a partnership between South Africa’s Northern Cape Provincial Government, World Skateboarding Grand Prix and Kumba Iron Ore. Located 300 miles southwest of Johannesburg in the Northern Cape Province, Kimberley was the location of South Africa’s first diamond mine, thus its nickname, “The Diamond City.” For the latest news and information go to www.kimberleydiamondcup.com or follow KDC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP)

World Skateboarding Grand Prix is an international skateboarding event management company. WSGP hosts world-class skateboarding events with a commitment to help stimulate local economies through tourism while supporting youth development, especially those in underserved or impoverished communities. For the latest news and information on the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup and other upcoming World Skateboarding Grand Prix events, visit www.WorldSkateboarding.com.

Historic Contingent of International Skaters Confirmed for 2015 Skateboarding World Championships in Kimberley, South Africa Oct. 7-10

Over 40 Countries to Vie for Skateboarding’s Most Prestigious Title

(Kimberley, South Africa – October 5, 2015) – World Skateboarding Grand Prix today announced the roster for the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup – the official street skateboarding world championship as recognized by the World Skateboarding Federation. The best pro street and vert skaters from the U.S. will join the top skateboarders from around the world to battle it out in Kimberley, South Africa October 7-10 for their share of a $500,000 prize purse, the largest single event prize purse in skateboarding, and the title of world champion. An historic contingent of over 40 countries and 250 skaters will compete in women’s street, men’s street and vert disciplines.

Another first in the industry, this year’s winners of major international contests were invited to compete in the Skateboarding World Championships along with the top 50 ranked skaters in the world, according to the official ranking system by World Skateboarding Federation. The open qualifiers for the street championships, will be held on Friday, October 9.

“We are the only contest to feature an open qualifier and to include skaters that truly represent the global skateboarding community,” said Tim McFerran, Founder of World Skateboarding Grand Prix. “We’ve reached out to 96 countries to send their top skaters to compete. By hosting a true world championship event with skaters from an unprecedented number of countries participating, we not only ensure that the competition lives up to its name, but that we are supporting these international skateboarders and helping to develop skateboarding in their countries by giving them a global platform.“

The World Skateboarding Federation is providing financial assistance to over 50 skaters this year to help them pay for travel expenses to South Africa. WSF is committed to supporting skateboarders around the world and is leading the charge to organize skateboarding in advance of its potential inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

For the first time, skateboarding’s biggest contest of the year will include the African Continental Championships, a special championship to accommodate the 14 countries and 26 skateboarders competing from African countries. The African Continental Championships will feature women’s street, men’s street, the rider cup team championship and men’s vert.

“I’ve seen first-hand the tremendous impact skateboarding can have in the life of a child in need. By supporting youth development through the construction of skateparks, hosting skate clinics and providing free skateboards, we believe we can dramatically improve the lives of youth and inspire the next generation of skateboarders. What could be better than seeing a skateboarder from the small town of Kimberley, South Africa compete one day in the Olympic Games.”

The Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup will be broadcast live in South Africa on SuperSport and distributed globally in 173 countries reaching over 600 million homes worldwide.

The World Skateboarding Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup is a partnership between South Africa’s Northern Cape Provincial Government, World Skateboarding Grand Prix and Kumba Iron Ore. Located 300 miles southwest of Johannesburg in the Northern Cape Province, Kimberley was the location of South Africa’s first diamond mine, thus its nickname, “The Diamond City.” For the latest news and information go to www.kimberleydiamondcup.com or follow KDC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP)

World Skateboarding Grand Prix is an international skateboarding event management company. WSGP hosts world-class skateboarding events with a commitment to help stimulate local economies through tourism while supporting youth development, especially those in underserved or impoverished communities. For the latest news and information on the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup and other upcoming World Skateboarding Grand Prix events, visit www.WorldSkateboarding.com.

Scotty Laird Wins US Skateboarding Championships: Earns Trip to South Africa to Compete in Skateboarding World Championships

Regional Qualifying Contests Held at Nation’s Top Independent Skate Shops Over the Summer; Winners Competed in Finals Aug. 29 in Washington D.C.

Sacramento, CA– (September 02, 2015) –World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP) — the leading global skateboarding events management company — announced today that Scotty Laird won the first-ever U.S. Skateboarding Championships held in Washington D.C. on Saturday, August 29. Laird qualified for the finals after winning the Kansas City, Missouri regional qualifiers hosted by Escapist Skateboarding. Yoshi Tanenbaum, who qualified at Pitcrew in Maryland, placed second and also won the Best Trick contest. Finalists earned spots by placing in the top three in regional competitions held in nine cities over the summer. The first place winners received paid trips to the finals. Laird’s win earns him a trip to compete in the Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup in South Africa Oct. 7-10.

“I’ve spent the past couple of years getting to know Scotty and have traveled with him on a number of skate trips,” said Nick Owen from Escapist Skateboarding. “The dude is always on turbo in everything he does; the best hype man you could ever have in skateboarding or anything else really. Scotty’s energy and positive outlook on life make him always fun to skate with, hangout with, party with, travel with or whatever. I am proud to call him my friend and no one in Kansas City was surprised that he won. Scotty is a pro — the world just doesn’t know it yet. Remember this: Scotty is LOUD!”

The format for the finals was a single elimination, head-to-head bracket-style format, widely hailed as the most innovative and exciting format for contests today. The U.S. Skateboarding Championships are sanctioned by the World Skateboarding Federation, a governing body for skateboarding.

About World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP)

World Skateboarding Grand Prix is the leading international skateboarding events management company. WSGP hosts world-class skateboarding events with a commitment to help stimulate local economies through tourism while supporting youth development, especially those in underserved or imporished communities. WSGP events including the Rider Cup Team Championships, the Turkish Skateboarding Championships, the U.S. Skateboarding Championships, and the World Skateboarding Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup. For the latest news and information on the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup and other upcoming World Skateboarding Grand Prix events, visit www.worldskateboarding.com. To view WSGP’s corporate site, go to www.worldskateboardinginternational.com.

Check out this article on Bahraini skater Faheem Balooshi’s trip to the upcoming Skateboarding World Championships. Read the full article here: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/18938/Skating-his-way-to-glory

As a former college basketball player who manages global skateboarding events, World Skateboarding Grand Prix CEO Tim McFerran has learned lessons beyond how to get comfortable on an international flight when you’re nearly 7 feet tall. Read More…